New Year's Eve 2021

New Year’s Eve Service

The Righteous Belief System

We are online so pray and request people to focus.

In this upcoming year we are going to be tilling the ground of our belief system, so that we can experience the power of God that is available to change us into people who mirror him and treat one another like he wants us to.

I’ve wondered for so much of my Christian life why Christians seem to struggle to live/be like the Bible says we should.

It often makes me wonder, are many of the people who say they are Christians really saved?

Now, I’m not hear to question anyone’s salvation, but salvation is not just going to heaven when I die.

Salvation includes being transformed to Christ’s image while I’m here on the earth.

Most Christians don’t seem to experience the heaven on earth part of salvation.

Let’s use marriage as an example.

You’re marriage shouldn’t be a rocky road of off and on arguments.

You’re reputation shouldn’t be that you are stubborn.

You shouldn’t be thought of as quick tempered.

You shouldn’t be wishy-washy in how you treat each other.

Question?

Why do Christians still get so angry, bitter, revengeful, insecure, fearful, jealous, selfish, doubtful and so on?

Am I the only one that wonders why we don’t look more like our Lord?

Oh sure we see some outer changes. (we stop cussing, getting high, getting drunk, going to the club or night spots etc.)

But what about the inner changes. (patience, gentleness, self control, generous, forgiving etc.)

If the same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us now, why is that power not changing us to be more like Christ?

Romans 8:11 ESV

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

So what’s the problem.

Is the power like a battery that looses power over time?

Or is it that you don’t believe?

You say I believe Pastor J. Aah, but you don’t believe right grasshopper.

It’s hard to believe your right when you think you’re a failing sinner.

It’s hard to believe your right when you’re not sure that God loves you.

Yes you!

When you think of yourself as a failing sinner or that God doesn’t love you, it’s hard to come to the throne of God boldly.

Then you find yourself avoiding the one who is your answer.

Our problem is our belief system.

When someone is in a dark place because of sin or because of strong temptations to sin, they struggle with coming to God.

We believe what culture has taught us about ourselves instead of believing what the kingdom of God has taught us about ourselves through Christ Jesus.

You ever noticed a child that lacks confidence.

They may want something, but they are scared to ask.

But if you’ve noticed a King’s kid?

They have a royal swagger about themselves don’t they.

Guess what, they’re not born with that royal swagger, but as they observe their surroundings in the early years, they realize that they’re not a peasant or a beggar.

They believe the best about themselves and expect the best of themselves.

And when they approach the King, they go with confidence.

How do you approach God?

God would you, if you don’t mind, if it be thine will, on behalf of my ancestors, maybe if you just might have time to think about me, could you do this or that for me.

Do you approach God like the child that lacks confidence?

Or do you approach God with a royal swagger?

Now let’s talk about:

The Right Belief System

We base our salvation on Romans 10:9-10.

Romans 10:9-10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

For some reason we either leave out verse 10 or if we include verse 10, we don’t dive into the meaning of it.

For with the heart one believes and is justified.

What is it that one believes and therefore is justified?

What does it mean to be justified?

Justified - Declared or made righteous in the site of God.

It’s what you believe Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection means for you, that makes all the difference in the world.

Let’s look at Romans 10 in context so that you can see I’m not just making this up.

Romans 10:1-4 ESV

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer, to God for them is that they may be saved.

2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

And this is not even a new concept from God. It is just a more complete concept now that Jesus has conquered sin and death.

In Genesis 15 God counted Abraham as righteous.

Genesis 15:5-6 ESV

And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Psalms 32:1-2 ESV

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit, there is no deceit.

God was graciously covering their sin and thus forgiving them even under and old covenant.

God always made a way for those who turned their hearts towards him.

It was those that turned their hearts away from God by serving other God’s, who incurred the wrath of God.

Romans 3 confirms this.

Romans 3:21-22 ESV

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

I’ve always been a big proponent of the belief system being very important, but I must say that for most of my Christian years it was a works righteousness.

But now I’m happy to say that changes are taking place in me that I never had the ability to bring about.

Changes are just happening because I am trusting in the positional righteousness through Jesus Christ and that is unlocking the power of God in my life.

I’m no longer beating myself up over my shortcomings.

When they manifest, I do make note of them and talk to God about them.

And then I quickly shift my focus back on who I am in his eyes and who he is.

Christ is like rubber and I’m like glue.

Whatever I see bounces off him and sticks to me.

What is Holy Spirit saying to you?